Athlon II X4 651 vs Pentium G4600
Athlon II X4 651
Pentium G4600
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 651 is positioned at rank 505 and the Pentium G4600 is on rank 466, so the Pentium G4600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 651
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G4600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Pentium G4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($92) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($116) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Pentium G4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+25%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($92) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($116) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 651 and Pentium G4600
Athlon II X4 651
The Athlon II X4 651 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,584 points. Launch price was $149.
Pentium G4600
The Pentium G4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,629 points. Launch price was $87.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 651 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G4600 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 651 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 651 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium G4600 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G4600 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon II X4 651 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G4600 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 651 scores 3,584 against the Pentium G4600's 3,629 — a 1.2% lead for the Pentium G4600. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 651 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G4600.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Pentium G4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,584 | 3,629+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 651 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G4600 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Pentium G4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 651 launched at $92 MSRP, while the Pentium G4600 debuted at $82. At current prices ($92 vs $116), the Athlon II X4 651 is $24 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 651 delivers 39.0 pts/$ vs 31.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G4600 — making the Athlon II X4 651 the 21.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Pentium G4600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $92 | $82-11% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $92-21% | $116 |
| Performance per Dollar | 39.0+25% | 31.3 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2017 |
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